What The Rain Does To Me

 I was out walking my dog a couple of nights ago when I was surprised by rain. It wasn’t in the forecast and it was too dark to see the type of clouds overhead so I did not venture out expecting it. 

At first it was like “Ugh” because it was not a warm night and I had not brought a jacket. But I realized I actually didn’t mind it. In fact, I was surprised that I was enjoying it. There was a strange sense of groundedness that it gave. So I went with that feeling and decided to explore the explanation.

Lately, things have seemed a bit chaotic, out of control. The pandemic has made everything a little more complicated and there is that subconscious stress that I keep talking about. We are in control of our waking conscious thinking but we are not always aware or in control of what is beneath the surface. This may become more evident as we get back to the routine of school, realizing that this routine is very different from what we have known in the past.

Let’s face it, if we have any routines none of them are what they used to be. This causes more stress than you may be aware of. It gives a false sense of having no control.

Then there is the rain.

There are things we can control and there are things we cannot. I can control when I go to sleep but I can’t control tomorrow’s weather. I can control what I eat but I can’t control my Prime Minister’s decisions. I can control what I watch but I can’t control the content of the news. I can control the thoughts I dwell on but I can’t control what my neighbour says and does.

Did you notice something there? I can control myself but I can’t control you. I can control myself but I can’t control the world. I can control myself but I cannot control the politics. I can control myself but I can’t control the weather. The only thing I have any authority to control is myself.

So that is what the rain is doing to me, grounding me in the reality of my Father’s creation. There is nothing I can do to stop the rain. The rain is something my Father put into motion. There is nothing I can do to stop the sun from rising in the morning. This too is something my Father put into motion. There is nothing I can do to stop him from loving me, from being with me, from desiring me, from believing in me. This is something he put in motion when he said “Let there be light” and he has not looked back since and the proof of it is found on the cross.

This world might look like it is out of control but none of it comes as a surprise to my Father. He was aware before I was born and he planted things in my path that I will need in every step of my journey. He knew it all and he planned for it. But I must exercise control over me, take my eyes off the problem and discover the solution he planted before I was born and that he has made available to me now. He doesn’t make it easy but he does make it simple. I just need to look for the things of the Kingdom.

In every dark moment, I am to turn from the darkness and find that gold nugget, that glimmer of light. All good things are from above so in the dark we look for the good things, the positives and there we will find him and our encouragement. We will find the treasures, the hope, the joy, the things to celebrate and lift up.

Face it, anyone can see the dark. It does not take any discernment to see the negative, the hopeless, the decay, the loss. It takes a heart determined to seek our Father and the things of the Kingdom to discern what the darkness tries to hide : hope! Let those who have ears to hear, hear. Let those who have eyes to see, see.

So this is what the rain does for me, it reminds me that the things I do not have the authority to control are in the hands of my Father. He’s in charge and I am glad he is. So I will control what is mine to control, and I will use that to chase after the things of the Kingdom, even, or maybe especially, in the dark.

Are You Being Polluted?

My great concern for you and me is that we don't think like God. I mean our perspective is not what it should be. We are surrounded by the knowledge and wisdom of humanity, it is only natural that it should have some affect on us, and we don't know how to handle it. Most of us are not even aware that we are in the enemy's camp and that our heart and mind belong elsewhere.

To humanity its own knowledge and wisdom only makes sense.

It is only logical that people live together without any formal ceremony. What is a ceremony besides a celebration with family and friends of a decision to be exclusive with someone. Why do we need the government to sanction who we decide to live with? And if we get tired of each other and we are no longer happy why bother sticking around? What is marriage if you don't believe in God?

It is only logical that same sex couples be equal to everyone else. Why should they be discriminated against? Isn't it a similar choice to choosing someone who is tall, short, black, white, fat or skinny? Why should any couple be treated as if they are not equal to anyone else? It only makes sense to our human logic.

It is only logical that a woman should have the decision making power over her body. That life that is growing in her is part of her. Without her there would be no life so it only makes sense that if she doesn't want it she should be able to get rid of it. Hey, God said that a man spilling his "seed" was wrong too so what's the difference? Christian men everywhere use condemns so what is the big deal if women make decisions about their bodies?

It also only makes sense that if a person feels they have lived long enough and they want to end it on a high they should have the right to make that choice. Is it not our life to do with what we wish? If I decide that I am  tired of living what right does any government have to tell me that I can't end it as I see fit? If a woman can make a decision about a life in her why should we not all have that right about our own lives? If someone is facing a horrible disease and decides they don't want to put their family through that kind of suffering, what right does anyone have to tell them no?

See, human logic makes sense when Jesus is left out of it, and we leave Jesus out of it.

Many Christians fall for the trap of human logic because they don't know that God said no. The world lives by its code and its logic and followers of Jesus live by God's code, his direction. We do not belong to this world but are citizens of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. We live by a different set of laws and values. We live by the thoughts of God and by his definition of right and wrong. Just because the world says it is right does not mean it is right according to God's values and instructions. The world changes but the Kingdom never does. There are no trends with God, no public opinions, not shifting values.

I am concerned because I have spoken to many Christians who defend the things I have mentioned here, setting aside the Word of God, and using human logic. They use emotions and a definition of love that we do not find in the Bible. They study the Word of God with the idea of trying to prove their position instead of understanding God's instruction. They are totally captivated by the thinking of man. They cannot see the difference because they do not possess the mind of Christ.

It is more important now than ever before that we are a people of the Word and of the Spirit of God. It is more important now than ever before that we become as intimate as we can with Jesus, surrendering every day to him, his instruction and his values. We must possess the mind of Jesus. It is the only way we can guard are hearts and minds for him and keep the pollution of this world from affecting us. The clash between man's logic and the Kingdom of Jesus is increasing and we must shore ourselves up for what is coming. Take the Spirit's direction and make sure that you are solidly established in the Kingdom and not losing ground to the world:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears,then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

Have You Prepared What You Are Taking With You When Jesus Calls?

Are you ready? Seriously, are you ready? So often we get ourselves ready for vacations, exams, even for emergencies. Here in Canada intelligent drivers carry a winter emergency kit in their car, just in case. We are also encouraged to have at least a three day supply of food and water on hand at all times in our homes. Students spend long hours in preparation for their exams. Parents spend nine months in preparation for the arrival of their baby, with eager anticipation. There are so many things that we spend time preparing for so shouldn't we also be preparing for eternity?

In fact, Jesus instructed us to be doing just that, preparing for the life to come:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

We are pretty distracted from what I can see, too busy storing up treasures here to give much consideration to the life to come. We allow worries, fears, anxieties, busyness, and plans all centered on self to distract us from the vehicles for storing up treasures in heaven, which are summarized by loving God and your neighbour. Paul gave this instruction to Timothy:

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:18-19)

The reason it is important is because we have not been given the departure date. We have no idea when it will be time to go but we do know one thing, we aren't taking anything with us except those things we have sent on ahead of us. Our "treasures" will be waiting for us but everything else will be left behind to be destroyed:

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:50)

All those things that you have worked so hard for, all those treasures in this place, even the hard work you put into being physically beautiful will all be gone. It's going to happen so quickly you won't have time to pack a bag or even prepare yourself. You need to be prepared to go at every moment of every day:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

In a flash we will all be changed so that we can take the voyage; so that we can move from this life into what is real life. All our tiny problems, useless plans, wrong priorities will be left behind. There will be no time for preparation so we must make sure that every moment of every day our goal is to know Jesus more, to love our neighbour as ourselves. Now is the time to be storing up those treasures, those acts of kindness, the acts of love and compassion. Now is the time to go as deep as we can with Jesus so that our heart fully belongs to him. Now is the time because when that trumpet blows our time will be up. When it does blow I think we will realize how much time we wasted on things that have no importance. Perhaps it is better for us to evaluate that now and make the changes that are necessary so that we are investing in eternity instead of in this temporary land of shadows.

Are you ready?